Effect of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on gastric myoelectrical activity

Abstract

Although hypo- and hyperthyroid patients have different symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract, the mechanism of thyroid action on the gut remains poorly understood. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on gastric myoelectrical activity, gastric emptying, dyspeptic symptoms. Twenty-two hyperthyroid (median age 45, 15 females) and 11 hypothyroid (median age 42, 10 females) patients were included into the study. Dyspepsia score, hypo- and hyperthyroid symptom scale, abdominal ultrasonography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed. Gastric myoelectrical activity was measured by electrogastrograpy (EGG) before and after therapy both preprandially and postprandially and compared with age, gender, and body-matched controls (12 for hypothyroid, 15 for hyperthyroid patients). Radionuclide gastric emptying studies were performed with a solid meal. Hypothyroid patients revealed a significant increase in preprandial tachygastria as compared with controls (12.3% vs 4.8%). The percentage of preprandial normal slow waves (2.4-3.7 cpm) was below 70% (dysmotility) in 7 of 11 hypothyroid patients versus 2 of 12 controls (P < 0.05). Hyperthyroid patients revealed a significantly higher preprandial (3.1 vs 2.8) and postprandial (3.4 vs 3) DF when compared with the controls (P < 0.05). A higher percentage of postprandial taschygastria (7.9 vs 0) was present in hyperthyroid patients than in the controls (P < 0.05). The decrease on post…